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The Roosters will be without Victor Radley for their trip to the Gold Coast after the lock was withdrawn from their squad with a hamstring injury.
The England international was slated to start in the back row with Nat Butcher at lock, but that may change with Egan Butcher elevated to the run-on side and Fletcher Baker onto the bench.
The Rabbitohs will be without superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell after his return from injury was delayed by another week after his calf muscle failed to recover in time.
He has not played since Round 12 and picked up the injury in Blues camp ahead of Game 1 of State of Origin, but was expected to make his return for the Bunnies’ crunch clash with Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast this Friday night.
Now, he will attempt to return for next week’s meeting with the Wests Tigers. Blake Taaffe will continue to deputise at the back, while Tallis Duncan comes onto the bench.
Adam Reynolds, however, will face his former club with the Broncos captain cleared of a hand injury that saw him taken off late in last weekend’s win over Canterbury.
Eels star Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have been slapped with lengthy bans in what will be hammer blows to their team’s finals chances.
Teams have been announced for Round 21 and the seventh-placed Eels are in a precarious position as they prepare to travel on Saturday to play a North Queensland side breathing down their necks for a spot in the top eight.
Campbell-Gillard has entered an early guilty plea to be banned for four matches after he was charged with grade-three dangerous contact for dropping his knees into Gold Coast hooker Chris Randall during Sunday night’s one-point win at CommBank Stadium.
He could have been out for five games if he risked challenging the judiciary. His teammate Maika Sivo rolled the dice and was unsuccessful at Tuesday night’s hearing which means his three-game suspension has become four.
Sivo applied for a downgrade for a grade-two careless high tackle charge for a hit on rival winger Jojo Fifita but it was denied.
Fa’asuamaleaui has been rubbed out for three matches for a shoulder charge on Campbell-Gillard and the Titans announced on Tuesday they would not be rolling the dice at the judiciary.
Dolphins prop Jarrod Wallace pleaded not guilty and was risking a four-game stretch instead of three but he was able to prove his innocence after being pinged for a shoulder charge on Spencer Leniu in Penrith’s 24-14 win at Redcliffe on Sunday.
The bans to RCG and Sivo could not have come at a worse time for the Eels, who face an arduous end to the season with games against Melbourne, Brisbane and Penrith.
Brad Arthur’s side is without two of their most important players, with five-eighth Dylan Brown (suspended) and hooker Josh Hodgson (neck) also sidelined.
Meanwhile, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has wielded the axe with three former rep stars paying the price for their poor performance in Auckland on Sunday – Matt Moylan and Wade Graham have been dropped while Siosifa Talakai has lost his starting spot.
Connor Tracey comes in at centre, Braydon Trindall is the new five-eighth while Jesse Colquhoun has got the nod ahead of Graham. Teig Wilton will miss a few weeks after limping off with a knee injury in the loss to the Warriors while Dale Finucane returns from his two-game ban.
Fitzgibbon has been loyal to a core group of players all season and previously resisted the urge to make significant changes to his side following the 54-10 loss to Melbourne last month. But after Cronulla yet again fell to a top-eight rival on the weekend, Fitzgibbon sprung into action and dropped the two veterans, both of whom were exposed defensively in the 44-12 defeat.
Ivan Cleary has confirmed his son and champion playmaker Nathan Cleary, who has not played since Round 14, will play this round.
Nathan was on track to play against the Dolphins in Redcliffe on Sunday but an extra week of recovery and training will do wonders for his injured hamstring. The Panthers got the job done without him. Top of the table Penrith host Canterbury on Sunday.
Penrith rested their NSW quartet of Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin against the Dolphins. They are all fresh and will be ready to play the Bulldogs.
Broncos star Reece Walsh is available for Round 21 after the Broncos successfully applied for Origin III to count as part of his three-game ban for abusing a referee while fellow rep stars Payne Haas (ankle) and Patrick Carrigan (calf) are also set to return this Friday for the blockbuster with the Bunnies on the Sunshine Coast. Maroons prop Tom Flegler is out another week as he nears a comeback from a foot problem.
There were no concerns over the fitness of Adam Reynolds after he was seen holding his wrist before leaving the field in the 70th minute against the Bulldogs.
Souths have Campbell Graham (sternum), Jacob Host (suspension), Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Jai Arrow (ankle) on the comeback trail as well as their four NSW reps for the showdown with their fellow title contenders.
Mitchell will play his first NRL game in two months when South Sydney fight to keep pace with the top eight against Brisbane this weekend. The fullback injured his calf late in NSW’s camp for the State of Origin series opener and while he was initially expected to line up in Origin II, the injury has prevented him from playing ever since.
The Rabbitohs have won only two of six games during Mitchell’s lay-off and fallen from first on the ladder after 11 rounds to eighth after 20.
Roosters repeat offenders Victor Radley and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were charged with dangerous contact after incidents in Saturday night’s loss to the Storm at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They have each copped a $3000 fine to avoid a two-game ban.
Manly fullback Reuben Garrick was charged with tripping Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes in the 26th minute and was fined $750 while Warriors centre Rocco Berry ($1000 for a dangerous throw) will also be lighter in the hip pocket.
Dragons duo Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) and Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) are unlikely to play again this year while Knights centre Dane Gagai should be right to return from his foot injury this Saturday against the Storm.
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin 14. Moses Mbye 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Jack Bird 18. Zane Musgrove 19. Sione Finau 20. Ryan Couchman 21. Max Feagai 22. Jaiyden Hunt
Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) and Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) have likely been sidelined for the rest of the season after aggravating previous injuries.
Tyrell Sloan (calf) and Jacob Liddle (concussion) are back while Ben Hunt returns from Origin duty prior to St George Illawarra’s bye last week. Jack Bird is back on the bench while Dan Russell has been promoted to start for second-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila (knee).
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Shawn Blore 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Fonua Pole 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Alex Twal 18. Aitasi James 19. Jake Simpkin 20. Will Smith 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Justin Matamua
Charlie Staines is not yet ready to make a return after a lengthy layoff due to a perforated bowel but Wests get some much-needed strikepower out wide with David Nofoaluma back from a shoulder complaint. Daine Laurie has replaced Will Smith at five-eighth while Luke Brooks (hamstring) is still a week or two away.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Mitchell Barnett 16. Tom Ale 17. Freddy Lussick 18. Bayley Sironen 20. Josh Curran 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Viliami Vailea
Shaun Johnson failed to finish the win over the Sharks due to a bump to his ankle but he won’t miss any more time.
Marate Niukore returns from a three-game high tackle ban while centre Rocco Berry ($1000 for a dangerous throw) was fined for a tackle on Will Kennedy. Front-rower Bunty Afoa (concussion) is also back with Mitch Barnett back to the interchange list.
Raiders: 1. Seb Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Matt Frawley 19. Nick Cotric 20. Trey Mooney 21. Hohepa Puru 22. Ethan Strange
Coming off the bye, the Raiders have props Corey Horsburgh (Origin), Pasami Saulo (concussion) and Josh Papali’i (hamstring) returning for their crucial clash with the Warriors.
Payne Haas. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Siliva Havili 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Jacob Host 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Tallis Duncan 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Davvy Moale 22. Dean Hawkins
There are a host of stars returning for the rested Rabbitohs after their bye week with Campbell Graham (sternum), Jacob Host (suspension), Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Jai Arrow (ankle) on the comeback trail.
“(Mitchell) has come back a lot fitter and slim, he’s going to be a dangerous man come Friday night,” said Rabbitohs centre Isaiah Tass.
Blues quartet Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Keaon Koloamatangi and Cameron Murray are also back in Bunnies colours after their Origin absences before the bye.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Jock Madden 20. Xavier Willison 21. Tristan Sailor 22. Delouise Hoeter
Reece Walsh (suspension), Patrick Carrigan (rest) and Payne Haas (hamstring) headline a trio of stars boosting the Brisbane side but Tom Flegler (foot) is still out and winger Corey Oates (knee) is likely to miss a couple more weeks.
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Erin Clark 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Ken Maumalo 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Thomas Mikaele
AJ Brimson will slot back in at fullback after he was rested after Origin III while Joe Stimson (concussion) will return via the bench but fellow forward Jaimin Jolliffe (hand) is out another fortnight.
Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been rubbed out for three matches for a shoulder charge on Reagan Campbell-Gillard and the Titans announced on Tuesday they would not be rolling the dice at the judiciary.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Nat Butcher 13. Nathan Brown 14. Brandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May 18. Corey Allan 19. Dylan Napa 20. Drew Hutchison 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Fletcher Baker
James Tedesco will be back from his post-Origin layoff while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley have taken fines rather than risk two-game bans for dangerous contact charges.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Brodie Jones 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Adam Clune
Veteran centre Dane Gagai (foot) will return after delaying his comeback in last Thursday’s triumph over the Tigers with Enari Tuala making way.
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tariq Sims 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Bronson Garlick 19. Chris Lewis 20. Jayden Nikorima 21. Marion Seve 22. George Jennings
No changes for Craig Bellamy’s team which trounced the Roosters but Ryan Papenhuyzen is getting closer to a return after a year out with a fractured kneecap.
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jason Taumalolo 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Ben Hampton 22. Mitchell Dunn
Heilum Luke is a week away from a return after his facial fracture so Todd Payten has kept the same 17 who downed Manly.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Andrew Davey 17. Ryan Matterson 18. Haze Dunster 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Waqa Blake 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Jack Murchie
The Eels have Josh Hodgson (neck) out for the rest of the year and Dylan Brown suspended for two more weeks and the judiciary has them in further disarray for their trip north.
Blues prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been banned for four matches after he was charged with grade-three dangerous contact for dropping his knees into Gold Coast hooker Chris Randall while winger Maika Sivo is out for three weeks for a grade-two careless high tackle on Jojo Fifita.
Nathan Cleary clutches at his hamstring in Round 14. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner 18. Jack Cogger 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Jaeman Salmon 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Tyrone Peachey
Brian To’o, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Isaah Yeo were rested after Origin and Nathan Cleary (hamstring) is a confirmed starter this Sunday so not much good news for Bulldogs fans there.
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Corey Waddell 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Jayden Okunbor 19. Samuel Hughes 20. Hayze Perham 21. Chris Patolo 22. Josh Addo-Carr 23. Viliame Kikau
Braidon Burns suffered an abdominal strain and Toby Sexton copped a head knock in the loss to Brisbane while Josh Addo-Carr’s hamstring strain from Origin might not keep him out again as he was named on the extended bench alongside Viliame Kikau, who could finally make his return from a pectoral tear suffered in Round 4. Paul Alamoti replaces Burns at centre and Kyle Flanagan has returned to halfback.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Jesse Colquhoun 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Kayal Iro 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Royce Hunt 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon has wielded the axe with three former rep stars paying the price for their poor performance in Auckland on Sunday – Matt Moylan and Wade Graham have been dropped while Siosifa Talakai has lost his starting spot.
Connor Tracey comes in at centre, Braydon Trindall is the new five-eighth while Jesse Colquhoun has got the nod ahead of Graham.
Teig Wilton is set to miss the rest of the season after limping off with a knee injury in the loss to the Warriors while Dale Finucane returns from his two-game ban. Braden Hamlin Uele remains unavailable due to a calf problem.
The Sharks, who were running third only a week ago, could fall to eighth spot with a loss to the Sea Eagles.
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Sean Keppie 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Ethan Bullemor 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Reuben Garrick has been fined for tripping but is free to play. Ex-Roosters prop Matt Lodge will make his Manly debut off the bench after switching clubs recently to take up a train and trial deal.
Bye – Dolphins
with AAP
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